Parents in Montgomery County expressed frustration during a heated meeting Tuesday with Northwest High School officials after a student was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to school.

The 16-year-old, Jaiden Ochieng, was taken into police custody after school hours, but parents say they were not informed of the situation promptly.

Montgomery County Public Schools leaders explained that police notified them on Sept. 6 about a warrant for Ochieng, who is linked to an attempted murder and assault case from March in Germantown.

Though the school principal, Scott Smith, sent a letter stating the incident was "not related to our school," parents were concerned that the student had carried the loaded, stolen gun during the school day.

"It's just kind of crazy. Parents are really upset... it's really messy!" said April Stone, a concerned parent.

Another parent who attended Tuesday night's meeting, Yuki Nakandakri, expressed similar frustration, saying, "I came for answers, now I got more questions."

Students attending the meeting also left unsettled.

Alvaro Nakandakri, a junior, said, "There is no knowing what their intention was – it does bother me."

Parents in Montgomery County say they want better communication and transparency when it comes to their kids' safety after a student was arrested and charged with attempted murder. They will have a chance to voice those concerns during a listening session taking place Wednesday at Rockville High School.


On Monday night, parents and students gathered at the school for a meeting. Media was not allowed inside.

Afterward, we spoke with several parents who said they still have concerns about the safety of their kids.

“I’m like terrified, she was terrified. And then the school message came,” said Rama Medicherne after the meeting.

MCPS parents are calling for more transparency after they were notified days after an incident involving a current Northwest High School student.

“They gave just facts,” said parent Yuki Nakandakari. “We need more than that.”

Parents say they need more details on a firm plan from the district after a student was arrested near the campus on Sept. 6 for the shooting that happened in March.

Police arrested 16-year-old Jaiden Ochieng in connection with a shooting in Germantown. He is being charged as an adult, which is why we are naming him. Police say Ochieng tried to shoot a 15-year-old student as he got off the bus.

He was arrested on Sept. 6 near school campus. During his arrest, officers recovered a loaded gun and added an additional charge of possessing a gun on school grounds.

“That part really scared me because there’s no knowing what their intention was,” said student Alvaro Nakandakari. “With the security features in place, I think they could use work.”

Nakandakari and his father told WUSA9 they left the meeting with more questions than answers.

“This meeting made me feel more stressed because I think it brought a lot of the unknown in the school system,” Nakandakari said.

The principal did send a letter to families, but parents say they weren't notified until days later, and families want to know what the school district is doing to keep students safe.

“I am frustrated because my daughter was actually traveling on the same bus as the kid,” parent Rama Medicherne said.